Patents Represented by Attorney Brian F. Drazich
  • Patent number: 8268991
    Abstract: The present invention describes a novel heavy-metal-free sequence leading to a superior, more economical, and scalable process for the high efficiency conversion of hexaallylhexaazaisowurtzitane (HAllylIW) to hexa(1-propenyl)hexaazaisowurtzitane (HPIW) and hence via reaction with singlet oxygen and subsequent nitrolysis to hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert D. Chapman, Richard A. Hollins
  • Patent number: 8227651
    Abstract: An effective method for producing high density fuel candidates from pinenes is provided. MMT-K10 is an efficient catalyst for the reaction, although significant amounts of p-cymene and camphene produced as byproducts limit the overall yield to about 80%. Nafion is also an excellent catalyst for pinene dimerization and was capable of producing dimers in up to 90% yield. Pinene dimers synthesized with these heterogenous catalysts have a density and net heat of combustion comparable to JP-10. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Harvey, Michael E. Wright, Roxanne L. Quintana
  • Patent number: 8012534
    Abstract: A process is provided for coating particulate materials with a thermoset polymeric coating that is less prone to creep or abrasion than a thermoplastic coating. The process provides for the coating of water-reactive and water-soluble materials which require a non-aqueous media for processing and also provides for the coating of particulate materials which must be processed in water. Also, all organics may be recovered, and there is no solvent contamination of water. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David A. Ciaramitaro, Brian A. Zentner, Andrew J. Lieux, Anna R. Merritt
  • Patent number: 7951248
    Abstract: An electrostatic charge dissipation composition having at least one energetic particle component and at least one oxidized electrically active polymer deposited on the energetic component. In another embodiment, the electrostatic charge dissipation composition includes at least one energetic particle component, at least one non-conducting polymer binder, and at least one oxidized electrically active polymer deposited on the energetic/binder composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Stephen Fallis, Jennifer A. Irvin
  • Patent number: 7947936
    Abstract: The invention described herein provides an apparatus and a method to cooperatively track and intercept a plurality of highly maneuvering asymmetric threats using networks of small, low-cost, lightweight, airborne vehicles that dynamically self-organize into an ad hoc network topology. This is accomplished using distributed information sharing to maintain cohesion and avoid vehicle collisions, while cooperatively pursuing multiple targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James Bobinchak, Gary Hewer
  • Patent number: 7943084
    Abstract: The present invention demonstrates a superior, more economical, and scalable process to increase the fluidity of metal powders by surface modification with alkylsilane reagents. This invention discloses that the most efficient process results from treatment with methyltrichlorosilane in hexane. In particular, the fluidity of aluminum powders having mean diameters smaller than 10 micrometers was considerably improved by the process of the present invention. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Curtis E. Johnson, Kelvin T. Higa, Roger M. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7875714
    Abstract: The present invention describes a novel heavy-metal-free sequence leading to a superior, more economical, and scalable process for the high efficiency conversion of hexaallylhexaazaisowurtzitane (HAllylIW) to hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20). The process of the present invention avoids both the preparation of benzyl chloride, which uses elemental chlorine, and catalytic hydrogenolysis steps that require palladium metal/compounds. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert D. Chapman, Richard A. Hollins
  • Patent number: 7745633
    Abstract: A linear isocyanate polymer produced by utilizing an effective amount of tetrazole diol or tetrazole polyol, reacting with an effective amount isocyanate resin, and cooling to room temperature producing a linear polyisocyanate polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David J. Irvin, Mark H. Mason
  • Patent number: 7675012
    Abstract: The invention described herein provides an apparatus and a method to cooperatively track and intercept a plurality of highly maneuvering asymmetric threats using networks of small, low-cost, lightweight, airborne vehicles that dynamically self-organize into an ad hoc network topology. This is accomplished using distributed information sharing to maintain cohesion and avoid vehicle collisions, while cooperatively pursuing multiple targets. An oracle vehicle relays network information to a control base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James Bobinchak, Gary Hewer
  • Patent number: 7632943
    Abstract: A novel reaction scheme is presented for making a 3,3,7,7-tetrakis(difluoramino)octahydro-1,5-diazocinium salt, such as HNFX, from a tetrahydro-1,5-diazocine-3,7(2H,6H)-dione that does not employ N-nitrolysis,—but that instead requires protolytic N-deprotection, or protolytic denosylation, (i.e., the nosyl N-protecting group is replaced with protons, forming the corresponding protonated amine or ammonium derivative). In summary, the present method subjects a suitably N-protected dione to difluoramination followed by protolytic N-deprotection by addition of a superacid and subsequent nitration utilizing an electrophilic nitrating agent to yield the diazocinium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert D. Chapman, Thomas J. Groshens
  • Patent number: 7620277
    Abstract: An optical fiber pigtail and methods of fabricating of the same. The invention also relates to a method of self-alignment of a fiber pigtail and a method of attachment of a fiber pigtail to a surrogate chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Paul R. Ashley, Michael D. Bramson
  • Patent number: 7608179
    Abstract: The present invention demonstrates the synthesis of a new pyrazole-containing monomer by an easily implemented two-step process. This monomer can be electropolymerized to yield a stable n-doping polymer that may easily be electrochemically characterized. It is demonstrated that the electrochemical behavior of the polymer films produced is dependent upon the conditions applied during electrodeposition. Films deposited by cycling only at relatively positive potentials (0 to 2000 mV) show less intense n-doping responses than those films obtained by scanning the applied potential throughout a wider range (?2000 mV to 2000 mV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David J. Irvin, David L. Witker, John D. Stenger-Smith, Jennifer A. Irvin
  • Patent number: 7601747
    Abstract: A one-pot process for making energetic cast cured binders making di-tetrazoles to produce di-functional di-tetrazole diols for making tetrazole base polymers. Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a process for preparation of a di-functional monomer including reacting an effective amount of nitrile(s) with inorganic azide and a divalent zinc salt in a first solvent, cooling to room temperature producing a di-tetrazole, purifying said di-tetrazole by recrystallization in a second solvent, and reacting an effective amount of said purified di-tetrazole with a third solvent, a soluble reversible or non-reversible base, and 2-chloro-ethanol, cooling to room temperature producing a di-tetrazole diol and is prepared in a one-pot process. Embodiments of the present invention further include the monomers produced by the one-pot process described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David J. Irvin, Mark H. Mason, Richard Hollins
  • Patent number: 7591225
    Abstract: A self-contained fuze module, for installation on pieces of ordnance, having sensing devices and processing capability within the fuze module to determine whether conditions have been met to arm the ordnance. The fuze module is a unitary sealed module communicating with a launch vehicle via one or more communication/power buses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Randall D. Cope, Gabriel H. Soto, John K. Kandell, Brian D. Dutton
  • Patent number: 7557220
    Abstract: A linear isocyanate polymer produced by utilizing an effective amount of tetrazole diol or tetrazole polyol, reacting with an effective amount isocyanate resin, and cooling to room temperature producing a linear polyisocyanate polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David J. Irvin, Mark H. Mason
  • Patent number: 7557250
    Abstract: An environmentally friendly picric acid explosive comprising, providing a nitromalondialdehyde, providing a dinitroketone, reacting the nitromalondialdehydes with the dinitroketone to produce a mixture, and subjecting the mixture to a cyclodehydrative mechanism to produce environmentally friendly picric acid explosive. Embodiments of the present invention include the picric acid explosive produced by the methods of described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of the Navy
    Inventor: Matthew C. Davis
  • Patent number: 7544811
    Abstract: The present invention discloses monomers of structure (IV) wherein “X” is an alkyl, aryl, or oligoether group, and “R” is an alkyl, aryl, or oligoether group that is chemically bonded to the N1 or N2 position of each of the tetrazole rings. The monomers of the present invention are suitable as binders in energetic compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David J. Irvin, Mark H. Mason, Stephen Fallis, Andrew Chafin
  • Patent number: 7531702
    Abstract: An environmentally friendly picric acid explosive comprising, providing a nitromalondialdehyde, providing a dinitroketone, reacting the nitromalondialdehydes with the dinitroketone to produce a mixture, and subjecting the mixture to a cyclodehydrative mechanism to produce environmentally friendly picric acid explosive. Embodiments of the present invention include the picric acid explosive produced by the methods of described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Matthew C. Davis
  • Patent number: 7528257
    Abstract: A process for making energetic cast cured binders by making di-tetrazoles to produce di-functional tetrazole diols for producing tetrazole base polymers. Embodiments of the present invention relates generally to a process for preparation of a monomer including reacting an effective amount of nitrile(s) with inorganic azide and a divalent zinc salt in a first solvent, cooling to room temperature producing a di-tetrazole, purifying the di-tetrazole by recrystallization in a second solvent; and reacting an effective amount of the purified di-tetrazole with a third solvent, a soluble reversible or non-reversible base, and 2-chloro-ethanol, cooling to room temperature producing a di-functional tetrazole diol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Inventors: David J. Irvin, Mark H. Mason
  • Patent number: 7517997
    Abstract: A cross-linked polyisocyanate polymer and a process for preparation of a polymer having the general structure (I) including reacting an effective amount of tetrazole polyol with isocyanate resin, combining at a temperature in the range of about 50° C. to about 100° C. for a time period in the range of about 1 to about 24 hours and cooling to room temperature producing a cross-linked polyisocyanate polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David J. Irvin, Mark H. Mason